Game apparatus.



No. 724,223. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903. E. TRUSLOW;

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

/@7. Q E MHMHW UNI ED TABS I ERNEST TRUSLOW, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N 0. 724,223, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed January 21, 1903. Serial No. 139,923. (No model.)

To @U whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST TRUsLoW, acitizen of the United States, residing in Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to an improved game apparatus which is intended to imitate a horse race in an effective manner, so as to produce in the parlor the enjoyment and excitement of the same on a small scale for the amusement of children as well as grown people; and the invention consists of a game apparatus which comprises a foundationboard of suitable length and width, a shaft supported in suitable bearings at one end of said board, said shaft being provided with separating-disks, means for imparting rotary motion to said shaft, strings attached to the shaft between the disks, said strings being provided with obstructions at dilferent points in their length, and imitation horses and jockeys supported on a float and attached to the opposite end of the string, said floats being provided with tapering and beveled front ends, so as to prevent the interference of the floats with each other.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same drawn on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the windingup shaft at one end of the game apparatus, and Fig. 4: is a similar plan view showing the position of the floats at the end of a race.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the foundation-board of my improved game apparatus. This board may be of any suitable length and either formed of several sections, which may be hinged together, or of one continuous length of board, as desired. The surface of the board is preferably waxed, so as to furnish a smooth polished surface. At the one end of the foundation-board A are attached upright standards 8, provided with bearings in which is arranged a shaft B, to which are keyed a number of equidistant separating-disks 1). Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft B by means of a cord transmission from a large pulley P, operated by a crank O to a smaller pulley p, the turning of the pulleys imparting a quick rotary motion to the shaft B. In place of the crank and pulley transmission a spring, electric, or other suit-able small motor may be used for imparting motion to the driving-shaft B. The width of the foundation-board is from ten to twelve inches, the length of the shaft corresponding thereto. Intermediately between the disks are attached to the shaft B. a plurality of strings t, which extend longitudinally over the foundation-board A to the opposite or starting end of the same, where the strings are connected by means of suitable eyes d with hooks d of flat elongated fioats D, on which the miniature figure of a horse and jockey, of lead or other suitable material, is supported. At both sides of the foundation-board are preferably arranged narrow ledges Z, which prevent the floats from leaving the board during their passage over the same. The horses and jockeys may be painted in difierent colors,

so as to impart thereby a close approach to a natural race.

When the strings are drawn out at the full width,v the miniature figures of the floats, horses, and jockeys are in position along the line of the starting-flags ff of the foundation-board, as shown in Fig. 1. In the drawings five race-horses and strings are shown; but it is obvious that a larger or smaller number may be arranged on the foundationboard.

On the strings are placed at suitable distances from each other lead or other balls 6, which serve for the purpose of imparting, due to the unequal Winding up of the strings on the driving-shaft B, a certain difierence in the positions of the race-horses longitudinally over the foundation-board from the starting end to the finishing end. This variation in the progressive movement of the floats and horses over the board is produced partly by the uneven winding up of the strings on the shaft and partly by the obstruction given by the lead balls, which produce the variation in the winding of the string on the shaft. By this variable winding of the strings thedifierence in the positions of the horses is obtained, so that some get ahead and others lag behind. The float that crosses first the line f is the winning horse.

For the miniature figures of the horses and riders the usual lead figures in the market can be used, which are attached in a suitable manner to the float. The float is preferably made of. thin boards, which are rounded off at the rear ends and beveled and pointed at the front ends, so that the floats when coming in contact with each other pass readily alongside of each other without riding one on the other or obstructing each other. The sliding of the floats over the waxed surface of the foundation -board is produced in an even and noiseless manner, while the speed of the horses is increased or decreased by the quicker or slower rotation of the driving-shaft.

Each float can be marked with a suitable name corresponding to the name of the horse, so that when the race is started excitement is kept up. This excitement is kept up through out the race, as every race differs from the other, owing to the variations in the winding up of the strings on the shaft, and thereby interest in the game is kept up. It not only forms an attractive parlor game for children, but also for grown people. As the game apparatus can be manufactured and furnished at considerably smaller expense than the rotary racing games heretofore in use and can be operated by one of the larger boys, the racing game can be supplied at a comparatively small expense, while providing the same amusement as more expensive games.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. Agame apparatus, consisting of a foundation-board of suitable length, a drivingshaft supported in suitable bearings at onev end of the same, means for imparting a rotary motion to said driving-shaft, longitudinal strings attached to said driving-shaft and extending longitudinally over the foundationboard, floats attached to the opposite ends of the strings and provided with miniature horses and riders, and obstructions applied at intermediate points to said strings so as to produce a Variation of motion in the winding up of the strings while the floats are drawn over the foundation-board, substantially as set forth.

2. A game apparatus, consisting of a foundation-board of suitable length, a drivingshaft supported in suitable bearings at one end of the same, means for imparting a rotary motion to said driving-shaft, separating-disks equidistantly arranged upon the drivingshaft, longitudinal strings attached to the driving-shaft between said disks and extending longitudinally over the fou ndation-board, floats attached to the opposite end of the strings and provided with miniature horses and riders, and obstructions applied at intermediate points to said strings so as to produce a variation of motion in the winding up of the strings while the floats are drawn over the foundation-board, substantially as set forth.

3. A game apparatus for imitating races, consisting of a foundation-board of suitable length, a driving-shaft supported in suitable bearings at one end of the same, means for imparting a rotary motion to said drivingshaft, longitudinal strings attached to said driving-shaft and extending longitudinally over the foundation-board, floats attached to the opposite end of the strings formed of an elongated board rounded off at the rear end and pointed at the front end, a horse and rider on and attached to said float, the pointed front end of the float being beveled, and obstructions applied at intermediate points to said-strings so as to produce a variation of motion in the winding up of the strings while the floats are drawn over the foundationboard, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNEST TRUSLOW.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, G. PuGOEPEL. 

